It's always hard to say goodbye to summer.. . even if you're working full-time, it still feels like July and Augu... Show More »

It's always hard to say goodbye to summer.. . even if you're working full-time, it still feels like July and August are full of carefree days devoted to vacation and beach trips and picnics. But we've got a raft of entertainment options that will have you begging for the return of sweater weather. From movies to books, TV to music, and more, check out our reasons to look forward to Fall. « Less

2/23

TV: The cancelation game:

We love watching TV. But for a certain subset of entertainment know-it-alls, part of the fun of the news season comes f... Show More »

We love watching TV. But for a certain subset of entertainment know-it-alls, part of the fun of the news season comes from predicting what will be a hit and what will flop -- and betting on when certain series will be yanked.

But what about those shows that we love that don't survive? Well, there's a certain masochistic pleasure in that, too. We'l happily tell anyone who'll listen why those shows were awesome, and why you're missing out for not watching them, and how this is yet another sign of the decline and fall of civilization ... Because complaining about TV is half the joy of watching it in the first place. « Less

3/23

TV: Questions answered -- at last!:

We've been waiting for months to find out what Carrie would remember on "Homeland," how Dean would make... Show More »

We've been waiting for months to find out what Carrie would remember on "Homeland," how Dean would make it our of Purgatory on "Supernatural," how Emily will deal with the news about her mom on "Revenge" ... so many questions on so many shows! We finally get our answers ... and we can't wait! « Less

4/23

TV: Reinventions:

"American Horror Story" returns -- with a new cast, a new setting, a new story altogether. Will Ryan Murphy be able to pull it ... Show More »

"American Horror Story" returns -- with a new cast, a new setting, a new story altogether. Will Ryan Murphy be able to pull it off? And how will "Community" fare without Dan Harmon at the helm? These are just two of the reinventions we're dying to see this season. « Less

5/23

TV: Saying goodbye:

"Fringe," "Gossip Girl" and "The Office" all end their run this season -- and whether you hate to see them go or love to watc... Show More »

"Fringe," "Gossip Girl" and "The Office" all end their run this season -- and whether you hate to see them go or love to watch them leave, you can't deny there's a real pleasure in knowing that this season will wrap up all the story lines and send these characters off into the sunset. And it's better than being canceled with cliffhangers still in the air, right? « Less

6/23

Movies: The end of an era :

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2" opens Nov. 16 -- and that date can be significant for both lovers and hate... Show More »

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2" opens Nov. 16 -- and that date can be significant for both lovers and haters of the sparkly vampire series. Lovers get to see the dramatic end of their beloved series -- and see what surprises the movie has in store for them. And for the haters? After this, they never need worry about Twilight dominating the entertainment media landscape again. Huzzah! « Less

7/23

Movies: Historical epics:

After a summer full of fluff, it's great to dig in to some dark, meaty dramas. And historical costume dramas are b...Show More »

After a summer full of fluff, it's great to dig in to some dark, meaty dramas. And historical costume dramas are boeuf bourguignon of the movie-watchers diet. Three stand out this fall: "Lincoln," with Daniel Day Lewis eerily channeling our 16th president; "Anna Karnenina," starring Keira Knightley as the tragic, fabulously-dressed heroine; and "Hyde Park on the Hudson," starring Bill Murray as FDR. Dig in! « Less

8/23

Movies: Untold 20th century stories:

"The Master" is about a religious movement launched after World War II, but it's not a Scientology stor... Show More »

"The Master" is about a religious movement launched after World War II, but it's not a Scientology story. Don't be ridiculous! The movie just features someone who looks like Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, who's wife has the same name as Hubbard's wife, who came up with the movement while he was at sea like Hubbard did ... but it's not the untold story of Scientology. Really!

"Argo" (pictured) really is the untold story of a scheme to rescue hostages from Iran by disguising them as members of a film crew. It veers between dark hilarity ("Do you have a better bad idea?" "This is the best bad idea we have, sir -- by far.") and incredible tension ("I think my little story is the only thing between you and a gun to your head.") It's a must-watch. « Less

9/23

Movies: Serious sci-fi:

Superheroes, aliens and franchise retreads are fine for summer. In the fall, we want our sci-fi to seriously blow our min... Show More »

Superheroes, aliens and franchise retreads are fine for summer. In the fall, we want our sci-fi to seriously blow our minds. That's why "Looper" (pictured) is one of the most anticipated movies of the fall. Joseph Gordon Levitt! Bruce Willis! Rian Johnson! A time-traveling plot line that's melting brains as we speak!

And if that's not enough, there's "Cloud Atlas" -- not strictly sci-fi, but it swoops through characters and time enough to leave you breathless, and has a post-apocalyptic storyline that even the most hardcore geeks will appreciate. « Less

10/23

Movies: The consummate spy:

Any new Bond movie is cause for celebration. And "Skyfall" pits Daniel Craig's James Bond against Javier Bardem... Show More »

Any new Bond movie is cause for celebration. And "Skyfall" pits Daniel Craig's James Bond against Javier Bardem's Raoul Silva, a very bad man with even worse hair. Remember the last time Bardem played a bad man with worse hair? He got an Oscar for it. « Less

11/23

Movies: Off-kilter fun:

Remember that bit about dark, meaty dramas? Sometimes you need some mental palate cleansers. And that's just what "T... Show More »

Remember that bit about dark, meaty dramas? Sometimes you need some mental palate cleansers. And that's just what "The Man with Iron Fists" (pictured) promises. It's a kung-fu spectacle with flying eyeballs, rivers of blood, and the unlikely talents of RZA and Russell Crowe. How can you resist?

And if that doesn't do it for you, there's "Seven Psychopaths," from the guys who brought you the hysterically funny, ever-so-wrong flick "In Bruges." We can't wait. « Less

12/23

Sports: College football:

The four-team playoff may be two years away, but there is still plenty to look forward to, like Missouri, Texas A&M, TC... Show More »

The four-team playoff may be two years away, but there is still plenty to look forward to, like Missouri, Texas A&M, TCU and West Virginia joining new conferences, or Notre Dame kicking off the first CFB Saturday live from Dublin. Plus, every single weekend features at least one marquee non-conference match-up. « Less

13/23

Sports: Can 2012 MLB live up to 2011?:

The final day of the regular MLB season in 2011 was one for the ages, but it was followed up by an improba... Show More »

The final day of the regular MLB season in 2011 was one for the ages, but it was followed up by an improbable run at a World Series title by the St. Louis Cardinals. Can the 2012 postseason live up to the drama? We hope so. « Less

14/23

Sports: Pro football:

Which two teams will be going head-to-head in New Orleans come February in Super Bowl XLVII? And bonus -- fantasy football ... Show More »

Which two teams will be going head-to-head in New Orleans come February in Super Bowl XLVII? And bonus -- fantasy football is back. We feel very good about our team this year, named "Vinegar Strokes." « Less

15/23

Second acts for our favorite post-Potter women:

"The Casual Vacancy," J.K. Rowling's first book since the end of Harry Potter, comes out on ... Show More »

"The Casual Vacancy," J.K. Rowling's first book since the end of Harry Potter, comes out on Sept. 27. Even thought it doesn't involve wizards or dark marks, you can expect lines at the bookstore. And Emma Watson goes from Hogwarts to a very different high school by starring in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," opening Sept. 21. « Less

16/23

Books: Novels that raise goosebumps:

No, literally -- the man behind the "Goosebumps" series you read as a kid also writes books for adults. And ... Show More »

No, literally -- the man behind the "Goosebumps" series you read as a kid also writes books for adults. And his grown-up books are just as terrifying. "Red Rain" follows a travel writer who survives a hurricane and adopts two young orphans from the storm. That turns out to be a very bad idea.

And Justin Cronin is back with "The Twelve," his follow-up to "The Passage." Apocalyptic future? Infectious vampires? The potential extinction of all mankind? Yes please! « Less

17/23

Books: The new literary lions:

Zadie Smith burst on the scene with "White Teeth," then "On Beauty." Her new novel, "NW," takes the residents of ... Show More »

Zadie Smith burst on the scene with "White Teeth," then "On Beauty." Her new novel, "NW," takes the residents of the northwest corner of London and puts them through their paces. Expect it to be on the lists for the big literary prizes.

Michael Chabon won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction with "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay." His newest book, "Telegraph Avenue," strays from the genre territory he's been playing in, and tells the story of two families in Berkeley, Calif. Anything he writes is worth reading. « Less

18/23

Books: Fantastical tales:

Philip Pullman created a new young adult classic with the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Now he's putting his spin ... Show More »

Philip Pullman created a new young adult classic with the "His Dark Materials" trilogy. Now he's putting his spin on some classics with "Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version."

And if you like some tech in your fantastic tales, check out "Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore" by Robin Sloan -- he works 21st-century gizmos into the story of a mysterious bookstore that may contain the code that unlocks the secret of eternal life. « Less

19/23

Books: Music gods in print:

Multitalented musician David Byrne tells us "How Music Works" -- and when the frontman of The Talking Heads talks mus... Show More »

Multitalented musician David Byrne tells us "How Music Works" -- and when the frontman of The Talking Heads talks music, we're going to listen. And rock god Neil Young turns to memoir with "Waging Heavy Peace." We can't wait to hear the stories he has to tell. « Less

20/23

Books: Hot-button nonfiction:

Salman Rushdie writes about his time underground as he fled the fatwa the threatened his life in "Joseph Anton: A M... Show More »

Salman Rushdie writes about his time underground as he fled the fatwa the threatened his life in "Joseph Anton: A Memoir." And Naomi Wolf takes on the most controversial organ in the news with "Vagina: A New Biography." « Less

21/23

Books: Farcical nonfiction:

Stephen Colbert continues his run of literary greatness with "America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren... Show More »

Stephen Colbert continues his run of literary greatness with "America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't." And Jon Ronson takes on conspiracies, credit card companies and other craziness with "Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries." « Less

22/23

Music: Bob Dylan returns:

Dylan is back with his 35th studio album, "Tempest." It includes a tribute to John Lennon and a 14-minute sone about th... Show More »

Dylan is back with his 35th studio album, "Tempest." It includes a tribute to John Lennon and a 14-minute sone about the sinking of the Titanic. Early reviews have been stellar. « Less

23/23

Music: No more rock operas:

Rock operas are great and all, but sometimes? You just want straight-up power-punk-pop. And Green Day is returning to... Show More »

Rock operas are great and all, but sometimes? You just want straight-up power-punk-pop. And Green Day is returning to those roots with three albums released in quick succession: "Uno!" on Sept. 25, "Dos!" on Nov. 13, and "Tre!" on Jan. 15. Bring on the singles, boys! « Less